Lincoln County moves forward with 'Zozo senior center plan

Although uneasy about the prospect that if a grant and state capital outlay money fall through, Lincoln County could be obligated for the entire $1.2 million cost of a new senior center in Carrizozo, commissioners took a leap of faith last week.

"You already have approved Resolution 2012-16, which committed a 10 percent match ($50,000 for a $500,000 Community Development Block Grant)," County Manager Nita Taylor explained during the special meeting. "I'm asking you to amend that to $650,000, of which $400,000 already is budgeted. This will enable the grant application to move forward and potentially for us to hire an architect. The $650,000 would be offset in the event of a capital outlay allocation."

The deadline for the CDGB application was Thursday, she said. The county can hire an architect outside the CDBG process because that expense is already a line item in the county budget.

Giving some background on the process, Taylor said in January, commissioners considered increasing the budget of $400,000 for the senior center to $700,000 to allow the grant application to move forward.

"An integral part of the discussion included the potential and the likelihood of receiving capital outlay funds to reduce the $700,000 county obligation," she said. The issue was tabled and subsequently, Taylor, Senior Center Director Ada Hendryx and Site Manager Rene Montes drove to Santa Fe to meet with Hubert Quintana, executive director of the Southeastern Economic Development District that includes Lincoln County as one of five counties represented.

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With Quintana, they met with each of the county's legislative delegates and provided them with a revised capital outlay request, which was reduced to $300,000 from $700,000, based on advice from Quintana.

"I mentioned the amount of capital outlay money the Legislature and governor are looking at this year will be similar to last year, about $135 million to $150 million," Quintana told commissioners. "If we could keep the request down a little, it would increase the chances of funding."

The county also changed the priority of the project from third to number one, he said.

"We visited with all legislators and provided information and pictures, which were very telling," he said. The photographs showed the deterioration of the building, the cramped space and the dangerous crossing of U.S. 54 by elderly clients to reach the existing center.

"All the legislators were very concerned about those matters," Quintana said. "We talked about the possibility of some money from the Aging and Long-term Services Department and that you made application as well (to CDBG)."

The county is pledging a 10 percent match (for the CDBG), instead of the required 5 percent for rural counties and that should enhance its application, he said.

"Anything beyond the 5 percent is leverage and the fairly large amount the county is putting in would boost (the rating score) for you. I believe application has a really good chance to be funded. If you receive an additional $300,000 from capital outlay to go with it, it would be almost dollar for dollar. That would be very rare for CDBG," Quintana said.

Based on the conversations with legislators since the visit with county officials, the county's capital outlay request stands a good chance, he said, but added, he couldn't offer a guarantee.

"I like the idea of a three-way split," Commissioner Kathryn Minter said, with $500,000 from a CDBG, $400,000 from the county and $300,000 from the state.

"But if we don't get the capital outlay, we will be on the hook for all of it?" she asked.

"It will be a two to three year project and we would have a chance to go back to the legislature," Quintana replied. "You just have to show you could carry the entire expense."

Funding sources

The money also can come out of the budgets for this year and next year, he said. To reduce the cost, the project can be split into phases with items such as the parking lots added later. If accomplished in phases, a completed project ready for use must be accomplished in each, he said. "It couldn't be a feeding facility and not have a kitchen, for instance," he said.

Commissioner Dallas Draper said $100,000 for an architect seemed high.

"It's been our experience that the cost runs 8 percent to 12 percent of the total project," Quintana said. If the center runs $1.2 million, the $100,000 estimate is right on target, but he cautioned that county officials should be sure along with the design work, that the architect's fee include soil compaction sampling, inspections and other services to ensure there are no surprise charges later.

Commissioner Preston Stone asked County Attorney Alan Morel if the county would be committed to the dollar amount once the resolution was approved.

"We are placing (the money) into budget line amounts, but until you actually award a contract, you have a right to rescind the project," Morel replied. "We need to know where all the money is coming from before we issue a notice to proceed."

Taylor said she's discussed the situation with the proposed architect and the firm's officials are "very willing and able to work within those guideline," and are aware that the cost may drop based on commission decisions. Commissioners approved the amended resolution on a motion by Commissioner Mark Doth. Later in the meeting, they also authorized Taylor to review the agreement with the architect, Wilson & Co., based in Albuquerque, to ensure those items mentioned by Quintana were included. They authorized her entering into an agreement once she is satisfied the county is covered.